Reading for Pleasure

 Dear You, 

Do you have books you read again and again? 

I have a few - and at the moment I read this (again): 

Mavis Cheek: Mrs Fytton's Country Life   (published in 2000!)

"...this is exactly the anti-depressant you need: Prozac on the page" wrote the Daily Mail.

I think the book incredibly witty and funny (maybe only for my generation?), I still can laugh on almost every page, and agree with Mail on Sunday: "..she (Mavis Cheek) possesses the wickedly sharp eye of a born satirist." I think it is Cheek's best and funniest novel. 

And when I take it from the shelf it is always a sign for me that I want (or have to) change and to come down to earth again. 

And feel which direction I want to go. Even if the picture might look a bit foggy or blurred - there is a direction. 

For Anne

 

I needed solitude, to say good-bye to my very, very dear friend. 

She takes a huge part of our life with her. 

I thank her for all the time we spent together: from our very first day when we met as freshmen we shared our highly exciting time as students, supported us when love or life became difficult, shared in our joy that we got from our children and our careers. 

More than 55 years of shared thoughts, opinions and emotions. 

Travelling together a lot we enjoyed incredible adventures:

during our week as "Bed and Breakfast for Garden-Lovers", or another time listening to the sermon of the Bishop of St. Paul's Cathedral which he gave to us members of the E.F.Benson society, followed by a gorgeous dinner in the Guildhall (London). 

After she did her Ph.D with 67 years (!) I surprised her with a stay in the carriage house of "Downton Abbey". Another time we followed the footsteps of Lord Peter Wimsey and Inspector Morse in Oxford, another time we enjoyed the centenary of the Chelsea Flower Show, or were "Puttin' on the Ritz" - just to name a few. 

Energy, empathy, joie de vivre, and so much laughing: 

I thank you for all that, my dear friend, 

I miss you.